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View Full Version : Substance over style, ls1 in 2nd gen bird...again



zamora7
04-08-2014, 06:29 PM
Well it's about time I start another project thread since my first time didn't go as planned. This will be my second attempt to stick an ls1 into a second gen, first was an 80 Trans Am, this one a 81 firebird. First time around was tough since at the time I bought the car our hours at work were cut back for a few months and eventually it branch was shut down completely. Had offers to relocate to either Austin or Houston but I wouldn't have made it comfortably, so I declined.

I did some trading transmissions from 6 speed to auto and back to 6 speed making money off of them both times. Eventually I sold the body of the car, the the ls1 and six speed combo, I made my money back and then some. Plus I kept the parts that I had bought, and restored like sub frame, a arms, the whole front suspension pretty much, plus c5 brake kit from kore3.

At the same time I had been daily driving my ws6 got three years and felt it was time for another project since my new job allowed for such thing. Found a 1981v6 firebird in good shape for about 2k, a couple weeks after that while searching for a motor I found me a nice torch red c5z with a 402 for a good price so I jumped on it. Now I had the perfect donor now in my ws6, took out the motor and transmission and sold the car.

Substance over style will be my approach to this project, meaning getting it running and driving as good as possible, without worrying about looks, that will come at a later time. In the next six months I started taking the v6 out, buying parts, buying parts, and did I mention buying parts? I am reusing the one inch set back plates from car shop Inc from the previous project and some other parts like steering linkage from ptfb.com and an iroc steering box. As to not make the first post too long the next few will be about what I have done to the car so far. I will update with some pictures soon.

Here's the car and the donor, a 2000 ws6, six speed.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20121115_154939_zpszfaxt1h1-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20121115_154939_zpszfaxt1h1.jpg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 03:08 AM
Out goes the tiny v6 and transmission.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140302_110203_zps6eawsd7m-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20140302_110203_zps6eawsd7m.jpg.html)

Out came the ls1 as well.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/IMG_153311268814045_zpsqzjqqnfz-1.jpeg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/IMG_153311268814045_zpsqzjqqnfz.jpeg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 03:14 AM
I could've sworn I had more pictures before the install of motor. I cleaned up the sub frame and firewall, painted the frame gray and firewall black, then installed motor.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20130717_201552_zpsvtj5f7qp-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20130717_201552_zpsvtj5f7qp.jpg.html)

Another shot.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20130717_201524_zpsgtqiuou2-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20130717_201524_zpsgtqiuou2.jpg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 03:21 AM
I ordered some stainless works 1 7/8 headers, work of art, great fitment. I highly recommend them.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20130415_084508_zpsmjemkqbw-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20130415_084508_zpsmjemkqbw.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20130415_084609_zpsqom8ddy9-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20130415_084609_zpsqom8ddy9.jpg.html)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20130415_084523_zpsyhj9jywr-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20130415_084523_zpsyhj9jywr.jpg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 03:27 AM
When I finally got the fuel pump mounted in place I couldn't wait starting it. Fired up the first try, idling kinda high. Posting from my phone so it's a pain trying to post videos, here's a link to first start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPIDoiSh0Hs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

zamora7
04-09-2014, 08:42 AM
Next was wiring in some relays to keep the fuel pump and cooling fans the way they should. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140304_153931_zpsyxodanfi-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20140304_153931_zpsyxodanfi.jpg.html)

Circuit breaker went inside under passenger side using existing screws.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140313_235902_zpsqqnp7hfp-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20140313_235902_zpsqqnp7hfp.jpg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 08:46 AM
At the same time I was wiring in the auto meter gauges. My first try at such thing, so all this wiring took me a while.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140315_162142_zpsku8fbqdt-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20140315_162142_zpsku8fbqdt.jpg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 08:50 AM
This is a video with everything wired in correctly, except alternator, was still waiting on the correct wire for it. Everything seems to work. My "woo"at the end is because I was choking lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J65NZ0Fewc8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

zamora7
04-09-2014, 08:59 AM
Next up was suspension. Ridetech and dse leaf springs thanks to MCB for their patience while I made up my mind and their great customer support, always answered all my questions.https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140317_214752_zpseeplgrgw-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20140317_214752_zpseeplgrgw.jpg.html)https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140406_202335_zps0s6vor9d-1.jpg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/20140406_202335_zps0s6vor9d.jpg.html)

zamora7
04-09-2014, 09:05 AM
I will be using kore3 c5 brake kit from previous project.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/267495d1291778663lspowerinto1980firebird-1.jpeg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/267495d1291778663-ls-power-into-1980-firebird-img_3510_zps5vhxqyuk.jpeg.html)

And the old car.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/216763d1266702035lspowerinto1980firebird-1.jpeg (http://s948.photobucket.com/user/zamora7521/media/216763d1266702035-ls-power-into-1980-firebird-1980-firebird_zps7gaqh7mp.jpeg.html)

andrewb70
04-09-2014, 09:48 AM
....https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/04/20140406_202335_zps0s6vor9d-1.jpg[/URL]

Cool project. I like that you're choosing function over form.

Double check to make sure that you got the upper control arm installed correctly. Having the upper ball joint forward of the lower one seems a bit off. I am not saying it is, just double check.

Andrew

zamora7
04-09-2014, 10:13 AM
Yeah i noticed that too, I was thinking of selling them to get the Ridetech uppers to match. I may have the wrong one on there, if I swap with the other one it might fix that it looks like.

zamora7
04-09-2014, 10:15 AM
And yes function over form, think I will enjoy the car more this way. I'll drive it around the way it is and maybe later on focus on how good it looks.

zamora7
04-15-2014, 07:38 PM
Does anyone know if the year one snowflake wheels go over the c5 brakes?